My thoughts on the Phillies season.

The Phils outslug the D-backs as they leave Phoenix with a win, 8-4.

The Phils’ bats came out smoking as they salvage a win against the D-backs, 8-4.

The Phils took a 1-0 lead in the first as, with two men on, and with nobody out, Jimmy Rollins hits an RBI double, knocking in Shane Victorino, who had earlier singled, then moved up to second base on Placido Polanco’s single, while sending Polanco, who had just singled, on to third base. The Phils then made it 3-0 as, with two men on, and with one man out, Ben Francisco hits a two-run ground-rule double, knocking in both Polanco and Rollins. The Phils then made it a 4-0 lead in the second as, with two men out, Victorino hits a solo home run, his third home run of the year. The D-backs got on the board in their half of the second as, with one man on, and with two men out, Melvin Mora hits an RBI double, scoring Stephen Drew, who had earlier walked, making it a 4-1 Phils’ lead. The Phils then made it a 6-1 lead in the fifth as, with one man on, and with one man out, Rollins hits a two-run home run, his first home run of the season, knocking in Polanco, who had earlier doubled. The D-backs got those two runs back in the sixth as, with one man on, and with no one out, Chris Young hits a two-run home run, his sixth home run of the year, scoring pinch hitter Juan Miranda, who had just tripled, making it a 6-3 Phils’ lead. The Phils would get one of those runs back in the seventh as, with the bases loaded, via a single by Polanco, who then moved up to second on Rollins’ ground out, 3-unassisted, a walk by Ryan Howard, and Francisco being hit by a pitch, moving both Polanco and Howard up a base, and with two men out, Brian Schneider, who was in the game because Carlos Ruiz was having back issues, forced in a run with an RBI walk, scoring Polanco, while moving up both Howard and Francisco, giving the Phils a 7-3 lead. The D-backs made it a 7-4 Phils’ lead in the eighth as, with one man out, Young hit a solo home run, his seventh home run of the year and his second home run of the game. In the ninth, the Phils added another run as, with one man out, Howard hits a solo home run, his fourth home run of the season. That would end up being the final score as Ryan Madson would pitch out of a runners on the corners, one out jam by striking out Mora swinging for the second out, and then getting pinch hitter Miguel Montero to ground out, 4-3, to end the ballgame.

Cole Hamels (3-1, 3.13) got the win as he pitched seven strong innings, giving up three runs on four hits and a walk, while striking out eight. Antonio Bastardo pitched an inning, giving up a run on one hit, while striking out two. Ryan Madson pitched a scoreless inning, giving up a hit and a walk, while striking out two. Joe Saunders (0-3, 5.93) took the lost as he pitched five and two-thirds innings, giving up six runs on ten hits and a walk, while striking out eight. Sam Demel pitched a third of an inning, getting out the only man that he would face. Juan Gutierrez pitched an inning, giving up a run on one hit, two walks, and a hit batter, striking out a batter. Josh Collmenter pitched a 1-2-3 inning, striking out a batter. J.J. Putz pitched an inning, giving up a run on a hit and a walk. Hamels came in and pitched well, especially after being given a big lead by the offense.

The Phils had twelve hits in the game, with Placido Polanco leading the team with four hits, three singles and a double. Shane Victorino (Single, Home Run, RBI) and Jimmy Rollins (Double, Home Run, 3 RBIs) both followed with two hits apiece. Ryan Howard (Home Run, RBI), Ben Francisco (Double, 2 RBIs), John Mayberry, Jr. (Single) and Cole Hamel (Single), had the other four Phils’ hit, as the offense came out smoking early. Brian Schneider had the other Phils’ RBI, via a bases loaded walk.

The Phils (16-8, 1st) have tomorrow off, before they start a three-game series with the Mets (10-13, 5th) on friday night in Philadelphia.

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